"It makes sense. Although the people who built the fortifications haven't co out, and no one knows the layout below, as long as we find the sewer pipe, there's still a chance. I guess the sewer leads to the river, to facilitate waste discharge, right? Let's check the river. Maybe we can find an opportunity," Ghost Hand said excitedly.
"We'll go take a look first thing tomorrow morning," Luo Zheng replied and closed his eyes to rest.
After a while, Hook ca over with so grilled fish. Everyone ate without ceremony, taking out so salt from their backpacks and enjoying the fresh and delicious fish. Luo Zheng was thrilled and laughed, "This is a good place. There's no shortage of water, and with the hidden river, there are fish to eat."
"Indeed, I've already sent soone to keep watch outside. They'll co in and report if there's any situation. Also, everyone sent to ask, what do we do next?" Hook said with a smile.
"Didn't you go looking for help? How long will it take, and how many people can you bring?" Luo Zheng asked in return.
"Closest will take two days, furthest three to five days. The number isn't certain, around two hundred or so," Hook explained.
"Then we'll wait until everyone is here before we act. Tomorrow, a few of us will scout out the area. Tell everyone to prepare arrows and rember to dip them in fast-acting lethal Poison Liquid. I'll set the battle plan based on the reconnaissance," Luo Zheng instructed seriously, not ntioning the sewer pipe.
Hook agreed and went to pass along the orders.
Having eaten their fill, the group took turns on watch and rested. Although they were all natives who had fought together, there was no guarantee against ill intentions. One must always be vigilant. Ti swiftly passed by.
Early the next day, after having so food and maintaining their weapons, loading bullets into empty magazines, and shouldering their backpacks, they set out. Hook ca over and along with him was Lang Sen, who said he would co along as a guide. In case of any incidents, it would be good to have support. Luo Zheng figured there was sense in this and didn't object. The group set off.
A few hours later, they reached the vicinity of the Japanese research base and walked towards the river. Hook and Lang Sen were curious but didn't ask too many questions. After walking for so ti, Lan Xue suddenly pulled Luo Zheng and pointed toward the valley base. Luo Zheng looked over and noticed that a troop had appeared at the valley base without anyone knowing when. They didn't look like the Japanese army. He quickly raised the sniper scope to observe and found they looked similar to the natives. Stunned, he detached the sniper scope from the sniper rifle and handed it to Hook, pointing toward the valley base.
Hook, puzzled, took a look through the scope for a mont and said with an ashen face, "Is it them?"
"Do you recognize them?" Luo Zheng took the sniper scope, mounted it back onto the sniper rifle, and followed up.
"Not all of them, but I know one group here deals in drugs. They are sowhat rcenary, the kind who would do anything for money. They're cruel and pretty infamous around here," Hook hurriedly explained.
"rcenaries?" Luo Zheng's expression changed drastically, and he looked at Lan Xue, whose expression also grew serious. The base already had combatant forces, and now they had hired others to help. The situation had beco complicated. He imdiately instructed Hook, "Tell Lang Sen to go back and warn everyone to be careful of an assault from these people. Don't fall for any traps."
"Okay," Hook said, his expression turning grave. He quickly gave a few instructions to Lang Sen, who's own face showed a slight change. He glanced at Luo Zheng and then ran off, disappearing soon after.
"It's good that we found out early. If these people had shown up in front of you, would you have attacked?" Luo Zheng asked, relieved.
"No, we don't want to stir up trouble as long as they don't attack us first," Hook explained.
"That's right. The Japanese counted on that, which is why they hired those people to deal with you. A cruel plan, but good that we found out early. It seems like they have just arrived and haven't attacked any of your people yet. Let's see if Lang Sen can get the ssage back in ti. Let's go," Luo Zheng said, his expression stern as he moved forward.
The group went through the woods to the riverbank. Unable to contain his curiosity, Hook asked, "What are you all doing here?"
"Looking for a sewer outlet. With so many people at the base, how do they handle the wastewater? If we find it, we'll see if we can infiltrate," Luo Zheng explained. Now that they were there, it was not a problem to disclose.
"Sewer pipes, good idea, but it's a sha. It has been raining these days, the river water has risen, even if we find it, it'd be subrged and we wouldn't be able to get in," Hook reminded them.
"Hmm, we'll see when we find it," Luo Zheng responded noncommittally, though his heart filled with worry. The Japanese had hired local ard groups against the natives, aning their forces remained to guard the base. The best way to destroy the base was to find the sewer outlet and infiltrate, but with the river rising, it was indeed a challenge.
Mountain Eagle scouted ahead, and soon the team received a ssage through their earpieces: a discovery had been made. Everyone rushed to see and noticed sothing odd about the color of the river water; it was muddy, with bits of refuse like grass and paper surging up from the riverbed. Clearly, this was the place where the sewer connected to the river. However, the outlet was completely subrged, making passage impossible. Seeing this, the group sighed in defeat.
"It's the rainy season. The river's backflow has flooded the pipes. We don't know how long it will last. It would be suicidal to go in rashly. Looks like we need to think of another way," Luo Zheng said, clearly frustrated.
Lacking equipnt, without diving gear, no one could do anything against nature. Lan Xue consoled Luo Zheng, and the team returned, reaching a hilltop near the base. They hid and observed. It didn't take long for them to notice sothing was amiss. Over a hundred ard individuals left the base, entering the forest toward the direction of a cave they had encountered before. Luo Zheng's face turned cold, his teeth gritted in anger.
When Hook learned of the situation, he too was furious, punching the ground with fiery eyes. Luo Zheng continued to watch the base, noticing that the defenses had been adjusted with more machine-gun emplacents forming two circular lines. The burnt houses hadn't been rebuilt. At one spot, a circle was made with sandbags, heavily guarded.
"Huh?" Luo Zheng said with a puzzled tone as he adjusted the sniper scope to take a closer look. He noticed the area enclosed by sandbags was heavily manned, with people entering but quickly disappearing. After observing for a while, Luo Zheng said in a low voice, "See that? The place with the sandbags should be the underground entrance."
"They're not repairing the burnt houses, which ans they're planning to abandon this base. The reason they haven't left must be that they're waiting for a specific ti. Once the ti cos and the toxins are transported out, they'll withdraw," Lan Xue theorized quietly with a serious expression.
"Makes sense. Toxins can't be away from the lab for too long. Calculating the ti, we have at most two more weeks. We must find a way to destroy the base quickly," Ghost Hand said softly.
"You're not short on clever ideas. Got any?" Lan Xue asked.
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